London Calling

Anonymous

Swinley Sunday is fine for me.

Plans for Saturday?

Edit: I think some do Aston at the weekends if weather is nice. I would, but still need the helmet and body armour.

cooldad

I have a school ride on Saturday morning, don't think I'm up to two in a day - feeling a bit weak.
Also need to catch up on some exciting things like cleaning toilets etc. The fun never ends.

I'm sure thel33ter would fancy an Aston trip - maybe next weekend. I'll stick to the red.

Blind Danny Johnson

11.30 for me if that's convenient for everyone?

cooldad

Fine with me.

thel33ter

Aston didn't really need armour or anything IMO

Anonymous

Depends what you do and if you come off. Went over on the black runs numerous times, landing on my ribs each time. Bruised at least if not cracked as hurt like hell to sleep for months. I'd rather have armour next time. Borrowed a full face also, though didn't crash on my head.

Anyway, you look out of place without the armour and PJs

cooldad

11.30 Swinley tomorrow at Go Ape.
me DK, BDJ, arigold and anyone else in the area.

Blind Danny Johnson

Does anyone who's coming tomorrow have a bushing removal tool? I've got new bushings for my rear shock but I've just discovered it's a nightmare getting them out without a very specific tool to knock them through. Or else does anyone have any tips so I can do it now without the tailor made tool to knock it through?

Thanks.

Anonymous

Haven't got one, but removed when did service on the shock to get sleeve off and I just pushed through with a long hex key I think.

Might depend on the frame and what size reducers or whatever you've got. I wasn't replacing though, just removing and whatever I needed to remove just pushed through with a bit of effort. Not sure I removed everything.

arigold

cooldad wrote:

11.30 Swinley tomorrow at Go Ape.
me DK, BDJ, arigold and anyone else in the area.

See you tomorrow

Blind Danny Johnson

Weirdest thing, after unsuccessfully trying to replace the bushings I put the rear shock back together and on the bike and the movement has gone!? There was definitely nothing loose before. I guess I'll just wait and see whether it comes back tomorrow?

cooldad

Ben has the tool, took a second to get my old ones out and new in.

Blind Danny Johnson

cooldad wrote:

Ben has the tool, took a second to get my old ones out and new in.

Is he coming tomorrow?

cooldad

Don't think so, haven't seen him for a while.

Atz

I can lend someone my shock bushing remover next week easily enough. Chances are you have the same problem as me, a slightly ovalised "top hat" which causes a little wobble depending exactly what angle it's in at. I've got some replacement ones on order currently.

cooldad

I replaced mine with strong bushes and hula hoops.
http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk ... ong+Bushes
Liked the idea of 'invisible bling' (Unlike those who ride shiny tart bikes.)

Atz

Invisible bling is not bling. Sorry, try again.

bugsy666

hi guys ive finally decided to give xc biking ago and brought myselff a new bike yesterday, and cant wait to start hitting ther trails, are you a mix abilitys group as ive just started, im of resonable fitness so distance wont be a problem . could you let me know if anybody reads this , this morning as i live near byfleet so need time to get over many thanks

cooldad

Hi bugsy666 more than welcome to come along I have pmd you my number easier if you want to come along today

bugsy666

cool il be leaving in about 20 mins should get me there for 11.15 il give you a call

cooldad

Pleasant pootle around Swinley today.
Crazy busy - never seen so many people out - walkers and riders.

Blind Danny Johnson

I know this is early but on the talk of possibly going to Aston Hill this weekend (which I'm definitely up for by the way) do you need a full face helmet to ride?

Anonymous

From their web site http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/about/faqs...

"I’ve heard I need a full-face helmet and body armour to ride on the downhills. Is this true?
The downhills at Aston Hill are generally a lot steeper and more challenging than other riding around the Chilterns. Wearing an open-face helmet for riding the cross-country route is fine, but if you’re purely riding the downhill runs then a full-face helmet is recommended. If you own armour we also advise that you use it – Aston Hill is on the Chiltern escarpment which contains a lot of sharp flint! We’ve seen several injuries that could have been prevented by simple knee and elbow pads."

Personally I'd recommend it. I borrowed one last time. I want to get some chest protection also as kept crashing onto my ribs last time, painfully.

But you can do it without.

Still yet to get helmet sorted though. Not sure I'll get one in time for the weekend.

cooldad

The red is easy enough. The black/DH runs were something else - too much for me, I'll stick to the easy stuff.

Blind Danny Johnson

deadkenny wrote:

From their web site http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/about/faqs...

"I’ve heard I need a full-face helmet and body armour to ride on the downhills. Is this true?
The downhills at Aston Hill are generally a lot steeper and more challenging than other riding around the Chilterns. Wearing an open-face helmet for riding the cross-country route is fine, but if you’re purely riding the downhill runs then a full-face helmet is recommended. If you own armour we also advise that you use it – Aston Hill is on the Chiltern escarpment which contains a lot of sharp flint! We’ve seen several injuries that could have been prevented by simple knee and elbow pads."

Personally I'd recommend it. I borrowed one last time. I want to get some chest protection also as kept crashing onto my ribs last time, painfully.

But you can do it without.

Still yet to get helmet sorted though. Not sure I'll get one in time for the weekend.

Thanks. I might have to give it a miss this weekend then unfortunately, I don't want to go home with a shard of 'sharp flint' in my face!

ThePriory1978

I've ridden all of Aston Hill just on a hardtail, XC helmet and elbow pads. Perfectly do-able for someone who finds Surrey Hills a breeze.
The black/downhll runs are epic, steep and challenging in parts, more difficult than most other terrain i can think of in the South, i'm not a pilot either so I avoid the big jumps using the chicken runs so i cant comment on those, in the other places on the severe runs if you (can) slow right down its fine.
All good fun just the slog back up each time is just that.

Blind Danny Johnson

Maybe I'll see nearer the weekend then as noone has said they're defo going. Sounds like a lot of fun though, maybe a full face helmet can be added to my ever growing list of things to buy. This has to be the most expensive hobby ever... Lots of fun and definitely worth it, but bloody expensive!

thel33ter

I had one or two crashes at Aston, I only had an XC lid on, the most challenging thing about the place is simply the steepness IMO. Both my crashes were straight over the bars.

Anonymous

All of mine were OTB, and didn't really hit the head. Landings were mostly soft, but it was falling on roots that did my chest in.

Problem I found mainly were the tight switchback sections each of which had big rooty drops. Every time, hit the drop, over the bars. Still, big bike now, so see what happens.

cooldad

I went down the black run by mistake thinking it was part of the XC route, and had a few anxious moments.